East African Geography and Culture

Which country in East Africa is the second most populous in Africa?

• Uganda

• Tanzania

• Ethiopia

• Kenya

What is the East African Rift known for?

• Being the largest desert in Africa

• Having the most cities in Africa

• Creating lakes and mountains

• Being the longest river in Africa

What is the Ngorongoro Crater famous for?

• Being the largest intact, volcanic caldera in Africa

• Being the tallest mountain in Africa

• Being the largest lake in Africa

• Being a major city in East Africa

Answer explanation

Other than being the biggest intact (unbroken) volcanic caldera on Earth, the Ngorongoro Crater is also a natural sanctuary for some of the densest populations of large mammals in Africa. Due to its enclosed nature, the Ngorongoro Crater has effectively formed its own ecosystem.

What is the main occupation of the Maasai people?

• Fishing

• Farming

• Pastoralism

• Mining

Answer explanation

At its most simple, pastoralism is the keeping of domestic herbivores and dates back 10,000 years. A more complex understanding is that pastoralism, or agro-pastoralism, refers to the management of livestock such as sheep, goats, and cattle over large areas. This often means traveling long distances to find green pastures. Due to this movement, it requires access to a lot of land. This process is found primarily in arid and semi-arid regions where water for agriculture is scarce and unreliable. Traditionally, pastoralism has been developed by nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples such as the Maasai. It is rooted in traditional knowledge and is vital to Maasai livelihood and culture, as it has been for thousands of years. 

What is a key feature of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem?

• Annual migration of wildebeests and zebras

• Largest desert in Africa

• Tallest mountain in the world

• Most populous city in Africa

Answer explanation

The Maasai Mara is located in south-western Kenya and makes up the northernmost quadrant of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. It’s mostly rolling grassland and savannah, with three major rivers crossing it – the Mara River, Sand River and the Talek.

The Serengeti

Located in the north of Tanzania and sprawling over 5,695 square miles of pristine wilderness, this huge swathe of land is named for the local Maasai word for “endless” – siringet. Renowned for its rolling grassy plains, it’s also home to riverine forests and dense woodlands around the Grumeti River in what’s known as the western corridor.